Socialist Unity Party of Germany (SED)

The Socialist Unity Party of Germany (SED) was the ruling communist party in East Germany from 1949 to 1990. Formed through the merger of German socialist parties under Soviet influence, it established a socialist state aligned with the Soviet Union. The SED controlled government, economy, and society, suppressing political opposition and promoting state ideology. Its leadership aimed to build a socialist society based on Marxist principles, but it also faced criticism for authoritarian practices and lack of political freedoms. The party dissolved after unification with West Germany in 1990, marking the end of East Germany's socialist regime.